Phantom Fortress

by Bruce Lancaster

In the autumn of 1780 the Revolutionary cause in the South seemed hopeless. The Continental armies had been soundly defeated by the Redcoats. And now the main British forces, under Lord Cornwallis, were poised for the kill. It looked like the beginning of the end for the valiant rebels. Throughout the South, partisans and loyalists were skirmishing in deadly fury. Treason and intrigue on both sides was rampant. In the midst of these ugly times a beautiful woman- a refugee- emerged to capture the heart of a brave calvery captain. Theirs was a desperate romance frustrated by the terrors of battle and the fears of uncertainty...an unforgettable story of a man and a woman who dared to fall in love, and a young nation that fought for freedom.

401 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1976

About the author

Bruce Lancaster was born in Worcester, Massachusetts on August 22, 1896. He served in the U.S. Army along the Mexican border in 1916 and later in France. After the war he returned to school and received a B.A. from Harvard in 1918. He worked in administration and sales for nine years, after which he served in the U.S. Foreign Service as Vice-Consul to Kobe, Japan (1928-1932). Following his return to the United States he became assistant secretary to the board of governors of the Society of New York Hospitals, and began to write the novels which would make him famous. Most of his works are historical novels, including Guns of Burgoyne, Trumpet to Arms, and Blind Journey. He has also written historical non-fiction, such as From Lexington to Liberty (1955).

Reviews

[Nathan Barber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Note: My copy of the book (1950) is 310 pages but it is listed here at 401 pages. Why such a considerable difference?

A wonderful story. I found myself having trouble visualizing the terrain, which makes up a considerable portion of the book, either because I have no point of reference (never having been to the area) or a weak imagination. Maybe it's a common problem when reading historical fiction, but I also had difficulty separating history from fiction often. Which characters were real? Which were fictional? Did the battle actually occur like that 220+ years ago? Anyhow, it has motivated me to dig into Revolutionary War history more.

I really enjoyed this book, but I doubt I would read a second time.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another historical novel from Lancaster. Once again he picks a less well known story in American history, the partisan warfare in the Carolinas during the Revolution that helped defeat Cornwallis before and at Yorktown. Based around what is known about Francis Marion (though there were other partisan groups which is acknowledged in the story), the author uses a fictional character who participated in many of the events during the Revolution to convey the breadth of the conflict. Very readable historical fiction.